Heartland Gluten-Free Pasta – Review and Giveaway

**Update: This contest is closed. Please scroll down to the bottom for the winners. Thank you for your participation.**

All of my life I have wanted to be an actress.

What the…?!?!? Where did that sentence come from? This site is about gluten-free lifestyle stuff.

Stay with me here. I’m getting to that.

So, back to actress-thingy. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of going to Hollywood or New York and becoming a super-huge, famous actress. But, when I became an adult, I got caught up in life, and one day I realized I was not pursuing my dream. (Dreams are good. Pursue them. Just a little PSA.)

But, I realized I needed to learn one major thing before I could go after my dream of becoming an actress…

How to wait tables.

That’s how the joke goes, right?

“I’m an actress.”

“Really? What restaurant do you work at?”

So, I decided to learn to wait tables at one of my favorite restaurants when I was a little kid… The Spaghetti Factory!

I know they have Spaghetti Factories all over, now, but the first one was actually in my hometown, Portland, OR. And, for those of you that have been to one, (before going gluten-free, obviously) you know they can be addicting. Tons of pasta and bread for a really cheap price. And it was so good.

Well, try working there.

Yeah, I worked there for a little over a year. Since this was in the mid-90s, and I have only been gluten-free since 2006, I was a mess. I lived on the pasta and bread because it was even cheaper if you worked there.

The problem I have now is that I do have fond memories of Spaghetti Factory. Showing up to a super-long line but watching Charlie Chaplin movies while we waited for a table. Eating bread and pasta until I was bursting at the seams. And then ice cream showing up. I’m not a big fan of spumoni, but it was ice cream. Who cares what flavor it was?

Anyway, all of this is leading to… comfort food. We all have certain foods that are comfort foods. For me, one of them was my mom’s clam sauce rip-off recipe over spaghetti and pretending I was eating at Spaghetti Factory.

Gluten-Free Spaghetti on a plate.

While I prefer the more traditional white clam sauce, now, pasta is still a comfort food. I think it is that way for a lot of people. And, finding good, gluten-free pasta isn’t the easiest thing to do. There are some great gluten-free pasta brands out there, but they are a bit expensive. Let’s face it, those are not the brands that go on sale at the local grocery store for 2 for a $1, you know?

Well, I was sent a sample of a really good, gluten-free pasta that doesn’t break the bank. It’s called Heartland Gluten-Free Pasta, and it is available at Walmart for around $2 a package.

I was a bit skeptical when we received this pasta to try. (Yes, Heartland sent me a free sample to try. Disclosure done.) We have had some pretty mushy, clumped together gluten-free pasta along our journey, so I figured one this inexpensive was probably going to be like that.

Well, I was pleasantly surprised when we made it, and it was quite tasty. And, it held its shape. Not mushy or clumpy at all. In fact, it seemed like regular pasta.

Heartland also makes sure their pasta is gluten-free. You can read their allergen statement here, but basically it says that they thoroughly clean their equipment before making the gluten-free pasta. Then, they swab test the surfaces for gluten before they proceed. After the pasta is made, they test it for gluten making sure to stay under the 20ppm requirement.

Verdict: For those who are on a budget (aren’t we all?) and want to have some great tasting pasta like they used to, Heartland is a good choice.

And, so others can try Heartland Gluten-Free Pasta, they gave me some product to giveaway. This giveaway will have three winners. The first winner will receive a package of Heartland Gluten-Free Spaghetti, a package of Heartland Gluten-Free Fusilli, two coupons for free pasta, and one coupon for 55 cents off. The second winner will receive two packages of Heartland Gluten-Free Spaghetti, one coupon for free pasta, and one coupon for 55 cents off. And, the third winner will receive two coupons for free pasta, and three coupons for 55 cents off.

Now, let’s go over how to enter…In the comments below, let me know what pasta dish you would make if you were one of the winners. That easy.

Of course, there are the usual ways to get extra entries.

~Post about this giveaway on your blog and/or share it on Facebook. Leave a separate comment here saying that you did.

~Tweet about this giveaway using @GlugleGFree. Leave a separate comment here saying that you did.

If you already follow or like, go ahead and leave a comment saying that you already do. That counts.

Until later, here’s to…Living better, easily!™

PPS – The giveaway for the Heartland Gluten-Free Pasta and coupons ends February 8st, at midnight, PST has ended. The winners are listed below. I will email the winner, and you will have 48 hours to get back to me. After which, if I have not heard back from you, another winner will be drawn.

Congratulations to:

First #19 – Julie!

Second #50 – Karen!

Third #35 – Marsha A.!

I have emailed the winners, as well as left replies on their comments to try to reduce any confusion if there are duplicate names. Below is an image of the random numbers drawn.

Just an FYI, my local Wal-mart carries it in the regular pasta area and not in the gluten free area of the store. Not sure why, but that is where I found it.
Also, my Wal-mart has been really good at carring something I ask for. When I went gluten free, I asked them if they would carry certain things that I knew I would be buying on a regular basis. They were very accomodating, so it may be worth it to ask your Wal-mart.

I would make my son’s simple-yet-FAVORITE dish with spaghetti noodles… It is: spaghetti noodles with heavy butter — and sprinkled generously with Parmesean cheese. He has Autism — so he is VERY particular…therefore, it MUST be Heartland spaghetti, Country Crock butter, and Kraft Parmesean cheese (otherwise, he refuses to eat it) — oh….and it MUST be on his favorite Winnie the Pooh plate with his preferred red plastic spoon!!! Of course!! Thank goodness for Heartland!!! It IS yummy — if I do say so myself!

I am so into to trying gluten-free pastas right now! I just sampled Goldbaums, but haven’t tried this one. You bring up a good idea – my husband loves linguine with clams, so perhaps that is what I would make with it!

Your disclosure made me giggle. I never thought I would see the day that bloggers have to disclose payment of a whopping $2 product. Oooh, the high compensation for all of your work! Thank goodness you disclosed that huge salary, lest we all be deceived.

I need to proofread better before I post. I meant to say that I got a sample for free, but that it costs around $2 at Walmart. I actually can’t buy it because we have no Walmart near us. I guess they don’t like the North Bay.

I also meant to say, I so remember the Spaghetti Factory growing up! I went to many dates there in the early ’90’s (the one near the waterfront) … now I’m wondering if you were ever our waitress! Hmm, I probably missed you by a couple of years.

I actually worked at the one in Clackamas. It was new, so they hired inexperienced people. Did you ever go to the one when it was downtown? It later became a nightclub that I went to in high school. I think it was called Confetti’s.

Gosh – thanks so much for sharing about WF/GF pasta at WalMart! I moved to rural Montana from WA state and far away from any specialty (Trader Joe’s was my favorite) or affordable health food store, so this news is cool beans. Maybe now I can have pasta more than the rare occasion. Even thought WM is more than 50 miles away, I’d be looking forward to the journey just to stock up!

I would love a simple spaghetti with store-bought spaghetti sauce, that’d be quite a treat, and, if they have pasta for making lasagna, I would love that!

I used to joke I loved pasta so much I should have been Italian! Learning I was allergic to wheat years ago was quite a blow and difficult transition, so happy to see more affordable products available.

I would love to give Heartland a try. Way back when, I used to use Heartland Whole Wheat pasta. Only recently, my husband and I were talking about a tuna/noodle casserole and especially with Lent coming up, this would make menu planning a little easier. It’s good to see that more products are now available locally. The times they are a changin’.

I have friended you on FB and love getting your blog there.
I would use the Fusli and make beef strogonoff. In the past I’ve had to skip the egg noodles,
or potatoes (am allergic to them) and have to use rice. There are two Walmarts closeby, so
I’ll look for this product!!! THANK YOU!!

I was just recently diagnosed with Celiac’s diease. I’ve been having very bad stomach pains and lots of other pain in my abdominal area for a long time. I was on the internet surfing and came across this site, which really provided me with some useful information. I just wanted to say thank you. I’ve been on a strict gluten free diet now for 5 months and I have been feeling wonderful. I have also been going to some gluten free parties and have made a new group of friends by buying gluten free products from one of the local health food stores. The food isn’t inexpensive so I always keep my eye out for deals or search online for the best prices. Anyway, thanks again for all the friendly chatting. I just put this in my favorites.